Frances MicklowNew coach Pete DeBoer and the Devils host the Philadelphia Flyers tonight in the 2011-12 season opener at the Prudential Center.

For the first time in 15 years, the Devils are trying to get back into the playoffs, and it may very well be a season-long struggle to capture one of the Eastern Conference’s eight spots.

There was optimism a year ago with rookie coach John MacLean and that didn’t turn out too well. Now it’s Pete DeBoer's chance to show the current Devils can win without someone other than Jacques Lemaire behind the bench.

They’ll play till June if ...
1. DeBoer can get the Devils to score goals. They were last in the league in 2010-11. Ilya Kovalchuk must bounce back from a disappointing season (for him) and new captain Zach Parise has to be the player he was prior to his knee surgery.

2. Adam Larsson shows he belongs in the NHL. Some area already touting him for the Calder Trophy as top rookie, but the Devils will be happy if he plays up to expectations, helps the power play and doesn’t make too many costly rookie mistakes.

3. Goalie Martin Brodeur defies his birth certificate. He’ll be 40 in May, but there is no reason to believe he’s lost what it takes to challenge for another Vezina Trophy. With Johan Hedberg, he’ll get enough rest.

They’ll be done in April if ...
1. Someone doesn’t step up to fill Travis Zajac’s skates. The center may be out until Christmas after Achilles tendon surgery. If Jacob Josefson, Dainius Zubrus, Adam Henrique or anyone else doesn’t complement Patrik Elias in the middle, GM Lou Lamoriello will be forced to go shopping early.

2. They start poorly. A bad start derailed the Devils last season and it would certainly be a psychological blow if they struggled out of the gate once again.

3. Zach Parise isn’t signed to a long-term extension. We know that management is having financial troubles, but if they can’t sign Parise before the trade deadline it might be too risky to keep him and see him walk for nothing. Trade Parise? A horrible thought.

What’s new
Coach Pete DeBoer. The joke is that Jacques Lemaire is never more than a phone call away, but DeBoer has already brought a certain confidence back to the dressing room.

On the ice, Petr Sykora returns at age 34, Adam Larsson anchors the defense at 18, winger Eric Boulton and Cam Janssen bring toughness. Forwards Adam Henrique and Brad Mills made the team in camp.

What the NHL stars saySteven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lighting
“Anytime New Jersey doesn’t make the playoffs I think it’s a surprise. You kind of expect them to be in the playoffs all the time. For the last decade anyway. There were some tough times for them last year but you see what they did after the All-Star break and how good of a team they were, so if that’s any indication as to how they’re going to be this year, they’re going to be just as tough as they’ve been for the last decade to play against.”

Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins
“I expect them to return to a more traditional role for the New Jersey Devils.”

Brian Gionta, Montreal Canadiens
“The organization prides itself on being at the top. Management wants to get back there. They have the right players. I think it was just one of those years where nothing kind of went right for them. Look at how they played after the break in the second half of the year. They were one of the best teams in the NHL. To make the run they did and come up short, I’m sure was heartbreaking for those guys.”